http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/43/section/18Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to the jurisdiction of, and the practice and procedure before, magistrates’ courts and the functions of justices’ clerks, and to matters connected therewith, with amendments to give effect to recommendations of the Law Commission.1980-11-01texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-04-17Expert Participation2026-04-07 Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 1(6A)Criminal Justice Act 2003Sch. 36 para. 8(5)s. 336(3) (4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 1(7A)Criminal Justice Act 2003Sch. 36 para. 8(6)s. 336(3) (4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980Sch. 6A (entry)Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000Sch. 7 para. 69Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 12(2A)Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022s. 4(3)s. 51(4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 12(5A)-(5F)Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022s. 4(6)s. 51(4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 17A(1A)Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022Sch. 2 para. 6(2)(b)s. 51(4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 17B(1A)-(1F)Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022s. 9(2)(b)s. 51(4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 17B(5)Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022s. 9(2)(d)s. 51(4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 17BAJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022s. 7s. 51(4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 17ZA-17ZCJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022s. 6(2)s. 51(4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 18(1)-(1B)Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022Sch. 2 para. 6(7)(a)s. 51(4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 18(2)Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022Sch. 2 para. 9(2)s. 51(4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 18(3)Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022s. 9(3)s. 51(4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 18(4A)(4B)Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022Sch. 2 para. 6(7)(b)s. 51(4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 18(6)Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022Sch. 2 para. 6(7)(c)s. 51(4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 20(7A)(7B)Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022Sch. 2 para. 6(8)(c)s. 51(4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 22(2A)-(2E)Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022Sch. 2 para. 6(9)(a)s. 51(4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 22A(1A)-(1E)Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022s. 6(3)(b)s. 51(4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 23(1A)-(1G)Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022s. 9(4)(b)s. 51(4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 23(4A)(4B)Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022s. 9(4)(d)s. 51(4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 24A(1A)Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022Sch. 2 para. 6(11)(b)s. 51(4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 24BAJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022s. 9(5)s. 51(4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 24ZA 24ZBJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022s. 8s. 51(4)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 75ACrime and Courts Act 2013s. 26(1)s. 61(3)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 85(5)Crime and Courts Act 2013s. 26(4)s. 61(3)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 139ACrime and Courts Act 2013s. 26(6)s. 61(3)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 145(1A)Children, Schools and Families Act 2010Sch. 3 para. 8(3)s. 21(8) 27s. 29(4)(b)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 145(1A)Children, Schools and Families Act 2010Sch. 4 Pt. 2s. 21(8) 27s. 29(4)(b)Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980s. 1(6A)Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015Sch. 11 para. 3(4)s. 95(1)art. 3Sch. 1 para. 77 Part I181Sections 19 to 23 below shall have effect where a person who has attained the age of 18 years appears or is brought before a magistrates’ court on an information charging him with an offence triable either way and—ahe indicates under section 17A above that (if the offence were to proceed to trial) he would plead not guilty, orbhis representative indicates under section 17B above that (if the offence were to proceed to trial) he would plead not guilty2Without prejudice to section 11(1) above, everything that the court is required to do under sections 19 to 22 below must be done before any evidence is called and, subject to subsection (3) below and section 23 below, with the accused present in court.3The court may proceed in the absence of the accused in accordance with such of the provisions of sections 19 to 22 below as are applicable in the circumstances if the court considers that by reason of his disorderly conduct before the court it is not practicable for the proceedings to be conducted in his presence; and the subsections (3) to (5) of section 23 below, so far as applicable, shall have effect in relation to proceedings conducted in the absence of the accused by virtue of this subsection (references in those subsections to the person representing the accused being for this purpose read as references to the person, if any, representing him).4A magistrates’ court proceeding under sections 19 to 23 below may adjourn the proceedings at any time, and on doing so on any occasion when the accused is present may remand the accused, and shall remand him if—aon the occasion on which he first appeared, or was brought, before the court to answer to the information he was in custody or, having been released on bail, surrendered to the custody of the court; orbhe has been remanded at any time in the course of proceedings on the information;and where the court remands the accused, the time fixed for the resumption of the proceedings shall be that at which he is required to appear or be brought before the court in pursuance of the remand or would be required to be brought before the court but for section 128(3A) below.5The functions of a magistrates' court under sections 19 to 23 below may be discharged by a single justice, but this subsection shall not be taken as authorising—athe summary trial of an information (otherwise than in accordance with section 20(7) below); orbthe imposition of a sentence,by a magistrates' court composed of fewer than two justices.Words in s. 18(1) substituted (1.10.1992) by Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39:1), ss. 68(d), 101(1), Sch. 8 para. 6(1)(a), Sch. 12 para. 22(1); S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2S. 18(1)(a)(b) and the word “and” immediately preceding inserted (4.7.1996 with application as mentioned in s. 49(6) of the inserting Act and S.I. 1997/2199) by 1996 c. 25, s. 49(3)(6) (with s. 78(1)); S.I. 1997/2199, art.2Words added by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 59(1), Sch. 9 para. 1(c)S. 18(5) substituted (18.6.2012 for specified purposes, 5.11.2012 for specified purposes, 28.5.2013 for specified purposes) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 3 para. 4; S.I. 2012/1320, art. 4(1)(c)(2)(3) (with art. 5) (see S.I. 2012/2574, art. 4(2) and S.I. 2013/1103, art. 4); S.I. 2012/2574, art. 2(2)(3)(c), Sch. (with arts. 3, 4) (as amended (4.11.2012) by S.I. 2012/2761, art. 2) (with S.I. 2013/1103, art. 4); S.I. 2013/1103, art. 2(1)(c)(2)(3) (with arts. 3 4)